Devices for the actuation of lances in looms without shuttles

ABSTRACT

In looms without shuttles, lances are reciprocated for the formation of the weft and the reciprocating action is provided by a movement transmitting element to which the lance is secured by means of a carriage, the carriage is fixed to the movement transmitting element and is guided in a support on the loom frame. The movement transmitting element is a flexible belt with a smooth outer surface and a toothed inner surface so that it can be driven by toothed driving wheels.

United States Patent Camprubi I1 May 20, 1975 [541 DEVICES FOR THE ACTUATION OF 3,311,137 3/1967 Miongolarra 139/122 3,480,046 11/1969 Monge 139 122 LANCES IN LOOMS WITHOUT SHUTTL 5 3,610,294 10 1971 Maassen 139/123 Inventor: Anselmo Bolea Camprubi, 55

Tavern St., Barcelona, Spain Filed: Nov. 9, 1973 Appl. No.: 414,188

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 13, 1972 Spain 185601 U.S. Cl. 139/123 Int. Cl D03d 47/00 Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Tomkinson et a1. 1. 139/123 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady and Stanger [57] ABSTRACT In looms without shuttles, Iances are reciprocated for the formation of the weft and. the reciprocating action is provided by a movement transmitting element to which the lance is secured by means of a carriage, the carriage is fixed to the movement transmitting element and is guided in a support on the loom frame. The movement transmitting element is a flexible belt with a smooth outer surface and a toothed inner surface so that it can be driven by toothed driving wheels.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DEVICES FOR THE ACTUATION OF LANCES IN LOOMS WITHOUT SHUTTLES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the structure of looms which do not use shuttles and, more particularly, it concerns the manner in which lances are actuated in such looms. This invention provides a considerable improvement over similar looms in use at the present both in the simplicity and efficiency of the actuation of the lances.

Essentially, the present invention is directed to a device for affording a reciprocating action for a lance to provide the corresponding movement of the weft. Basically, the invention resides in the manner in which the lance is connected to a movement transmitting element by an intermediate carriage. The carriage is provided with sliding or rolling members so that it can be guided in supports on the loom frame. This device differs from the prior art in which a direct engagement exists between the various parts and it avoids the structural complexity that such known arrangements involved.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawing a device is shown for effecting the reciprocatory movement of a lance 4 in a loom which does not use a shuttle. The device includes a movement transmitting element 1 which is trained over a pair of spaced driving wheels 2, 3. The movement transmitting element 1 is a flexible belt-like member having a smooth outer surface and a toothed inner surface arranged to mesh with teeth on the driving wheels 2 and 3. Appropriate means, well known in the art, not shown, are connected to the driving wheels for effecting the reciprocating movement to be translated to the lance by the movement transmitting element 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2, an intermediate block or carriage 5 is mounted on the belt-lil e movement transmitting element l and, in turn, the lance t is connected to the carriage. The carriage 5 includes a pin-like member extending through the belt-like'elernent 1 with wheels 6 or similar members on the opposite ends of the pindilce member which are guided in supports 7 on the loom frame. In addition to the wheels 6, slcids or other types of sliding members can be used for guiding the carriage within the supports 7. Further, the loom frame contains other supports 8 which guide the movement of the lance i.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the movement transmitting element 1 travels in a rectilinear path between the driving wheels 2, 3 and as a result a similar rectilinear movement is transmitted to the lance 4 during the movement of the carriage 5 between the two wheels.

In FIG. 3, a lance 4a is shown which is flexible and travels in a curvilinear path as distinguished from the rectilinear path of the lance 4i in FIG. I. In this embodiment the endless belt-like movement transmitting element 1a is also flexible and travels not only over the driving wheels 2 and 3 but also over additional supporting members which provide the movement transmitting element with its curvilinear path of travel. With this arrangement it is possible to save room by reducing the overall width of the machine due to the curved path travel of the movement transmitting element.

The invention can be carried out in other embodiments which differ only in detail from the embodiments described above.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

I claim:

1. Device for actuating lances in looms without shuttles comprising a loom frame having at least one support therein, a movement transmitting element, means for driving said movement transmitting element, a carriage attached to said movement transmitting element, said carriage includes sliding means in engagement with at least one support in said loom frame for guiding said carriage, a lance attached to said carriage so that the movement of said movement transmitting element is transferred to said lance without direct contact between said movement transmitting element and said lance, said movement transmitting element is a flexible endless belt, said means for driving said movement transmitting element comprises a pair of spaced driving wheels in engagement with the inner surface of said belt, said driving wheels are arranged so that said flexible belt travels in a curvilinear path between said driving wheels, auxiliary support members located between said driving wheels for supporting said flexible belt in its curvilinear path, and said lance attached to said carriage is flexible so that it travels in a curvilinear path comparable to the curvilinear path of said flexible belt.

2. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible endless belt has a toothed inner surface and a smooth outer surface, and said driving wheels are toothed and are arranged in meshed engagement with the toothed inner surface of said belt.

3. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sliding means includes wheels rotatably mounted on said carriage.

4. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a pin-like member secured within and extending through said belt, a bracket mounted on said pin-like member, said lance secured to said bracket, and said sliding means comprises a pair of wheels each attached to an opposite end of said pirulilte member and guided in said at least one support in said loom frame.

5. Device, as set forth in claim 1, where a second support is located in said loom frame for guiding said lance at a position spaced from the path of movement of said carriage on said movement transmitting element. 

1. Device for actuating lances in looms without shuttles comprising a loom frame having at least one support therein, a movement transmitting element, means for driving said movement transmitting element, a carriage attached to said movement transmitting element, said carriage includes sliding means in engagement with at least one support in said loom frame for guiding said carriage, a lance attached to said carriage so that the movement of said movement transmitting element is transferred to said lance without direct contact between said movement transmitting element and said lance, said movement transmitting element is a flexible endless belt, said means for driving said movement transmitting element comprises a pair of spaced driving wheels in engagement with the inner surface of said belt, said driving wheels are arranged so that said flexible belt travels in a curvilinear path between said driving wheels, auxiliary support members located between said driving wheels for supporting said flexible belt in its curvilinear path, and said lance attached to said carriage is flexible so that it travels in a curvilinear path comparable to the curvilinear path of said flexible belt.
 2. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible endless belt has a toothed inner surface and a smooth outer surface, and said driving wheels are toothed and are arranged in meshed engagement with the toothed inner surface of said belt.
 3. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sliding means includes wheels rotatably mounted on said carriage.
 4. Device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a pin-like member secured within and extending through said belt, a bracket mounted on said pin-like member, said lance secured to said bracket, and said sliding means comprises a pair of wheels each attached to an opposite end of said pin-like member and guided in said at least one support in said loom frame.
 5. Device, as set forth in claim 1, where a second support is located in said loom frame for guiding said lance at a position spaced from the path of movement of said carriage on said movement transmitting element. 